Tourism, Organisations & Operators,

Revenue generated from gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park amounted to $11 million (approx. Rwf11 billion) within the first six months of 2022, according to Rwanda Development Board (RDB).
The money was earned from the sale of 6,200 gorilla permits during that period. Each permit costs up to $1500In 2021 and 2020, the park generated $6 million and $5.9 million respectively owing to the lockdowns and movement restrictions attributed to the Covid-19 pandemic.
In 2019, it stood at $21.9 million before the pandemic.
According to Ariella Kageruka, Head of Tourism and Conservation Department, RDB, gorilla tourism is one of the key contributors of recovery in tourism sector.
“The high-end tourism with gorillas being the leading attractions that has brought back tourism in Rwanda.”ADVERTISEMENTKageruka was speaking during a press conference for the occasion of Kwita Izina 18th edition slated for September 2.
The ceremony that will be held on the foothills of Volcanoes National Park will see the naming of 20 baby gorillas born in Kinigi, Musanze.
Since the start of the tourism flagship event in 2005 which is held annually, about 354 baby gorillas were named.
There has been a number of initiatives to improve the livelihoods of park communities including tourism revenue sharing program.
Kageruka cited that the program that gives 10 percent of total revenue back to the community has seen over Rwf7.9 billion distributed to more than 880 community based projects.
These include schools, medical facilities, and other key infrastructure projects.RDB’s statistics indicate that the tourism sector has generated $168 million revenue in the first six months of this year.
After facing challenges of Covid-19 inbound tourism revenue has increased by 25 percent from $131 million in 2020 to $164 million in 2021 with Rwanda welcoming over 512,000 international visitors last year.
With the increasing population of the endangered mountain gorillas, the government of Rwanda in collaboration of the African Wildlife Foundation seeks to expand Volcanoes National Park, a project that is expected to cost $255 million (approx. Rwf260 billion).
The initiative will expand the park by approximately 23 percent, increasing its size by 37.4 square kilometers (or 3,740 hectares) to enhance the effective habitat functioning of the park

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Wizz Air suspends relaunch of Russia-UAE flights as criticism mounts More

Downtown Circle is made up of five levels and would sit on five points, or pillars, embedded into the ground. The massive span of the circle itself would be composed of two main rings held together by a continuous green belt named the Skypark which vertically connects the floors with each other creating a connected three-dimensional urban green eco-system.
The National mentions that the (supposedly) self-sustaining 550-meter-tall (1,804-foot) structure would include a tram system and incredible landscaped features such as swamps and a waterfall in and around its three-kilometer (1.86-mile) long tract. ZNera Space, the Dubai-based firm behind the proposal, mentioned it in terms of the NEOM project’s recently-announced ‘The Line’ megastructure, stating that its concept differs within an urban context, but that the radical design, which was thought up during the pandemic, “raises the discussion of what we can do better” in terms of agricultural production and social division.
“Our roles as architects is to come up with these ideas,” co-founder Najmus Chowdry said. “We want people to comment on it, criticise it, to see how we can think about building topographies.”

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Bermuda Opens Up to Unvaccinated Travelers

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Bermuda is removing its restriction on unvaccinated travelers, according to the Bermuda Tourism Authority.
Beginning Aug. 22, unvaccinated travelers will be able to visit the destination. Previously, unvaccinated visitors 12 and over had been required to apply for a medical exemption from vaccination to enter Bermuda.
“The pandemic is not over, but today, Bermuda has the necessary tools and processes in place to protect ourselves and our communities,” said BTA Interim CEO Tracy Berkeley. “Our updated travel protocols will streamline the process for visiting our island, further boosting Bermuda’s tourism comeback in 2022.” 
Unvaccinated travelers to Bermuda will have to take a Covid test no more than two days before landing in Bermuda, and then test again on day four of their vacation.
They must also have valid travel health insurance to enter Bermuda, and must upload proof of their insurance to the Bermuda Travel Authorization application for approval. ADVERTISEMENTIf travelers don’t take a test two days before arrival, they can test at the airport.
For more, visit Bermuda Tourism.

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Travel to Italy is booming

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Industry experts say that Italy has consistently been among the top destinations for European summer bookings since international travel returned in the spring, and travel demand soared to levels not seen since the start of the pandemic.
“Summer 2022 bookings for Italy have been extremely in demand with approximately 75% of my bookings since April being for Italy,” said Melinda Fortunato, owner of Best Travel in Fairfax, Va.
Italy’s tourism numbers are on track to recover this year, with international arrivals from Canada, Australia, England and Spain returning to 2019 levels, according to Confcommercio, an Italian organization that represents tourism businesses.
But it’s Americans who the organization says are the number one market driving Italy’s tourism recovery.
A recent Confcommercio survey found that about 2.2 million Americans are expected to visit Italy by the end of summer and projected to spend 2.1-billion euros between July and September, a 20% increase from 2019.ADVERTISEMENT“Honeymooners, anniversaries and postponed trips from 2020 are most of the reasons for traveling to Italy,” Fortunato said of her clients, adding that last-minute bookings have grown in recent months. “People are booking two months out instead of six to nine months out.”
The Amalfi Coast has been the most in-demand destination for Fortunato’s Italy bookings this year, followed by Tuscany, Rome, Florence and Venice.
“A few clients who have been to Italy before want Cinque Terre or Lake Como,” she said, adding that most of her travelers are visiting two to three destinations during their visit and making good use of rail services in between destinations.
“We’re doing tons of pre- and post-river cruise trips this year,” said Frank Marini, CEO of Railbookers Group, a rail travel and vacation packager that specializes in customizable FIT itineraries.
Marini said that Switzerland is a popular starting point for travelers wanting to do a pre- or post-cruise rail extension tour to Italy because a number of river cruises originate or end on the Rhine River in Basel.
Railbookers offers itineraries to Italy’s most popular destinations—including Lake Como, Cinque Terre, Naples and the Amalfi Coast—on trips that can begin in Basel, Geneva or Zurich following a river cruise.
Toni Lanotte-Day, owner of Toni Tours in Levittown, Pa., has also seen that market grow: she has an Emerald Azzurra post-cruise group of 20 visiting Italy’s “bread basket” area of Venice and Bologna this summer. She is also taking a group of 18 to Naples and Sicily in October, a trip rescheduled from 2020.
Pietro Radiocovich, a tour guide who works for Lake Como For You, said tourism to the region has “really increased in the past 10 years, mainly from the U.S. and Britain, especially after Covid, where we’re now experiencing a big explosion of tourism.”

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Slovenian Tourist Board is joining forces with Lonely Planet in a new multi-channel content campaign

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Slovenian Tourist Board is joining forces with Lonely Planet in a new multi-channel content campaignTop articles present Slovenia as an exceptional destination for active and outdoor experiences.To strengthen the visibility of Slovenia as a boutique destination committed to sustainability, the Slovenian Tourist Board (STB) in cooperation with Lonely Planet will launch the campaign that focuses on highlighting Slovenia as a green, active and healthy destination for 5-star experiences in a series of three articles. Lonely Planet commissioned journalist Mark Baker to visit Slovenia in June and attend a press trip organized by the STB and Slovenia Outdoor. This resulted in articles highlighting the pristine nature of Slovenia, which invites to unique outdoor experiences. The articles will be available to readers on Lonely Planet’s channels (website and social networks) and additionally promoted with visual displays and banners.
The articles unveil natural beauties of Slovenia such as Bohinj and its surroundings and also lesser-known tourist destinations in Eastern Slovenia with an emphasis on Maribor and Ptuj, and Koroška with an underground cycling under Peca.
Upon launching the campaign, Msc. Maja Pak, the Director of the Slovenian Tourist Board, commented: “The campaign addresses guests who are looking for unique active experiences in pristine nature. Lonely Planet is a global travel and tourism brand and a world-renowned publishing house with more than 50 years of tradition, which will definitely contribute to increasing the visibility of Slovenia as a destination of unique natural beauties, perfect for active holidays. Lonely Planet has published more than 150 million guides and has a loyal readership. Their website has 15 million views per month and more than 12 million followers on social networks and they target travellers with a higher income. Active outdoor experiences and sports tourism are also the main communication topics of Slovenian tourism for 2022-2023, and the 2022-2028 Slovenian Tourism Strategy also pays special attention to them.”
Lonely Planet’s Vice President, Experience, Tom Hall, commented: “Slovenia is a terrific destination for Best in Travel 2022 and beyond. For Best in Travel each year Lonely Planet searches the globe for places that fit our criteria offering exciting travel experiences centred on Best in Travel’s values of community, sustainability and diversity. The experiences on offer in Slovenia made it an obvious match for Best in Travel.We are excited to work with the Slovenian Tourist Board on our upcoming campaign. This campaign showcases an article series presenting Slovenia as a country as a wine and culinary destination, as well as covering a wide range of outdoor activities all year round including putting the spotlight on hiking trails showcasing the country’s beauty, history and variety.”

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Hi-story in the making

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Hi-story in the makingBallater iCentre has thrown open its doors to a group of friendly Jacobite ghosts who shared tales of their past as well as the history of nearby Braemar Castle with visitors, as part of Scotland’s Year of Stories 2022
The group of costumed team members from Braemar Castle acted as roving storytellers, enchanting visitors both old and young outside the iCentre, with stories of the Jacobite rebellion and of times gone by at the castle, which has been operated by the local community since 2007. Youngsters who visited the iCentre also had the opportunity to dress up in clothing from the Jacobite era and have their pictures taken.The Year of Stories 2022 celebrates stories inspired by, written, or created in Scotland. Stories are a vital part of Scotland’s culture and every community has a different tale to tell. Shared stories, whether spoken, written, sung or filmed are what give us a sense of place, history and belonging. This year, community groups, museums, heritage sites and other visitor attractions are getting involved with the themed year, with storytelling always at the heart of it.According to the castle’s website, its original owners, the Earls of Mar were among the earliest rulers of Scotland and their power continued down the centuries. In 1628 the 2nd Earl built Braemar Castle as a base for his hunting excursions to his lands in the Braes of Mar but also to remind the local population who was in charge. In 1689 this authority was challenged by the newly-formed rebel group, the Jacobites and the Castle was set alight in the first Jacobite Uprising. By the second Jacobite Uprising in 1715, the Earl of Mar had changed sides and it was the 6th Earl who raised the standard to start the rebellion in Braemar. However, the rebellion lasted no more than a few months, ending in defeat for the Jacobites and disaster for the Earl. He lost everything and fled overseas. Braemar Castle was seized by the Crown and local landowners – the Farquharsons of Invercauld -grasped their chance and bought the Castle. The final Jacobite uprising led to another change of fortune for the Castle. Following the final Jacobite defeat at the Battle of Culloden in 1746, Government troops were stationed in the Castle to make sure there would be no more rebellion. When the troops finally left in 1830, the Farquharsons set about converting the Castle into the delightful family home on show today. An important part of the iCentre’s role is helping visitors to enjoy the area responsibly, by linking visitors with local tourism businesses and sharing information on some of the hidden gems that can be enjoyed.Fiona McCulloch, Ballater Assistant iCentre Manager, said: “It was really great to have the ‘Jacobite Ghosts’ of Braemar Castle at the iCentre as part of Scotland’s Year of Stories 2022. Sharing local Jacobite history and Braemar Castle with lots of appreciative visitors was very enjoyable and the visitors loved seeing their children dressed in authentic Jacobite costume. They really brought history to life! “It was really worthwhile being able to help a local business reach out to a wider audience in this way.”Braemar Castle is currently undergoing a £1.6M restoration programme with cash from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Historic Environment Scotland and the fundraising efforts of the small community of 500 people. It is aiming for a reopening date of July 2023 with a vision to create a prominent visitor attraction and deliver in Braemar and cross the region, a bold, creative and far-reaching programme of community engagement and learning. Doreen Wood, founder member of the Braemar Castle management team, said: “It was a beautiful day and people were very appreciative and interested to hear about our community castle. It was good to promote the castle as well as an opportunity to fundraise towards its restoration. “Dressing children up as Jacobites was a big hit! We were grateful for the opportunity to participate in YOS2022.”VisitScotland’s iCentre network can offer a platform for tourism businesses to connect directly with visitors. They can also host supplier events and offer a range of ticketing services, sales of local artisan products through its Shop Local retail intitative, as well as onward booking advice for visitors across Scotland. For more information on VisitScotland iCentres, visit:  https://www.visitscotland.com/about/practical-information/vic/ For more information on The Year of Stories, visit: https://www.visitscotland.com/about/themed-years/stories/

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DISCOVER FORTE WINKS IN THE HEART OF MAYFAIR

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Slovenian Tourist Board is joining forces with Lonely Planet in a new multi-channel content campaign More